I used to be engaged on my Haunted Riot put up for this most great time of the yr and determined to incorporate Swamp Factor on my record of Creepy Comic Creatures. This led me to contemplating my favourite Swamp Factor moments and the conclusion that almost all of them contain his bemusedly exasperated dealings with one John Constantine: occultist, purveyor of regardless of the hell type of magic he needs, and normal monumental ache within the ass.
This prepare of thought finally screeched into irony station with the thought, “In fact, Swamp Factor is the rationale Constantine has that tree tattooed on his ass.”
Which…is a fairly good story, so relatively than summon up an entire individual from the comedian ether right this moment, we’re going to summon up a narrative line and its symbolic fruits on John Constantine’s butt.
Prepared?
Please, don’t faux you haven’t needed a peek on the derriere that impressed Justice League Darkish: Apokolips Struggle’s King Shark to say, “King Shark is a shark.”
Okay. Brace yourselves as a result of that is about to get bizarre. Which…comics, come on, in the event you’re right here, it’s best to know that by now.
*Ahem*
The character of John Constantine was first launched in The Saga of Swamp Thing #37 (1985). Born in Liverpool, he started to experiment with magic at a younger age, although the mysterious personage who launched him to the artwork failed to say that their present of an influence constructing spell required a sacrifice; that sacrificed ended up being John’s mom and father. Regardless of the tragedy, John continued to construct his magical abilities, utilizing them principally to con folks as a matter of survival, rising as much as be a loudmouthed, belligerent, and very gifted magician.
Alec Holland and his spouse Linda had been of their lab within the Louisiana swamp (it was an excellent secret lab in fact, as a result of 1974) engaged on a “Restorative Chemical” that might resolve the world’s meals shortages when a few thugs working for a criminal offense boss (due to course) discovered their tremendous secret lab and blew it up. Alec, who had been drenched in his experimental chemical, awakened from being knocked unconscious (positive) simply because the bomb exploded and was solely capable of make it to the swamp, the place the chemical solid a bond between the scientist and his topic. The ensuing creature was a hybrid of vegetation and Alec Holland’s consciousness (however lacking giant swaths of his reminiscence) that referred to as itself Swamp Factor and had management over each cell of vegetation on the planet. He declared himself protector of the Inexperienced.
After some bizarre shenanigans with extra labs and hallucinogenic tubers, and a while in a punk band and a few actually unhealthy choices, John confirmed up on Swamp Factor’s turf claiming to have the ability to fill in his reminiscence gaps however refusing to take action till Swampy helped him resolve some supernatural issues across the nation. Swamp Factor did as Constantine requested, which led to his surviving Disaster and The Nice Darkness that adopted within the Spirit Realm. He then met the Parliament of Timber, a bunch of retired plant elementals who took duty for making sure there was all the time an lively elemental defending The Inexperienced.
Right here’s the place the possession is available in.
Throughout the bizarre shenanigans, Swamp Factor had met Abby and so they fell in love. There have been ups and downs, one among stated downs being Swamp Factor being napalmed and retreating to an alien planet to regrow a physique (once more—he does that quite a bit). You’ll be able to forgive the Parliament of Timber for considering he was lifeless and sprouting a brand new elemental, sure? Sure. But in addition oops, as a result of two residing elementals would upset the stability of nature = calamity. The Parliament gave Swamp Factor the selection of leaving Abby without end and becoming a member of them in retirement or killing the Sprout who was, successfully, his child. He refused each choices and went to hatch a plan along with his outdated pal, Johnny; the duo figured that grafting The Sprout to a human host till Swamp Factor was able to retire would purchase them them the time they wanted.
Their first candidate, Solomon Grundy, didn’t work out.
Evil man who had simply died in a terrorist assault, ditto.
John negotiated with a mean dude whose airplane was about to crash however The Inexperienced by chance escorted Gary Holland’s (sure, that’s proper) soul to heaven with the remainder of the crash victims. Yikes.
After further failed makes an attempt, Swamp Factor took management of a considerably reluctant John Constantine’s physique and did the deed with Abby, conceiving a toddler wherein they may plant The Sprout and at which it could develop at a standard human fee.
Earlier than returning John’s physique, Swamp Factor very thoughtfully had it embellished.
And that’s how John Constantine ended up with this week’s B-Checklist Hero, the tree tattoo, on his ass.
